Brussels, 16 October 2018 – The European Robotics Week (ERW) offers one week of various interactive robotics related events across Europe for the public. One month before the start of ERW2018, over 650 events have been announced, and more than 1000 are expected in Europe and beyond, to show how robots will impact the way we work, live, and learn. Every year the ERW chooses a location to host the Central Opening event, an eco-system of various engaging activities. This year’s Central Opening event is in Augsburg, Germany.

“Europe must strive towards promoting robotics and digital education as a basis of shaping a creative, democratic knowledge-based society. The European Robotics Week 2018 aims at paving the way for the Generation R(robot) of digitally-skilled robotics natives. Under the overarching theme Next Generation R, the ERW2018 Central event in Augsburg will enable both young and old to interact with nowadays robotics technology in a way that goes beyond the classroom, transforming it into something much more inclusive and collaborative”, says Reinhard Lafrenz, Secretary General of euRobotics.

What is happening in Europe?

Robotics researchers, universities and industry are opening their doors Europe-wide, from the very West in Spain to Romania in the East, from far North in Finland, to the Southern reaches of Cyprus.

West and South of Europe are leaders in number of events announced this year. In Southern Europe, the Italian Scuola di Robotica is organising some 250 events, and in Spain, around 200 events are planned, out of which 180 are in Catalonia. In Western Europe, Germany is organising over 70 events, on various topics, with open doors by companies and research institutes alike.

Central-East Europe is focusing on extending access to new technologies for all. In Romania, e-Civis, the organiser of the European Robotics Forum 2019, is teaching the teachers how to integrate robotics in the curricula, and Bosnia Herzegovina and Hungary will both organise kids’ workshops on programming and competitions.

The Opening – Augsburg, Germany

From 16 to 18 November, Augsburg will be in the spotlight, hosting the Central Opening event of the European Robotics Week 2018. Augsburg combines tradition and innovation and is home to numerous technology companies and world class research at the heart of the economic region of Bavaria. 
In addition to the Opening event with high-level representatives from industry, research, policy and politics, to take place the Town Hall on 16 November, an exhibition and exhibition, several public talks and activities for adults and children will be offered at the Zeughaus, between 16 and 18 November.